How did you first find out about bariatric surgery and what were your initial impressions of it?

I started talking to my family Dr. about it in 2007. Looked it up online so I could read about it. I wanted to do it right then and there. So I went to a seminar and filled out the paper work and started my journey. I just wanted to be small again.

Describe your experience with getting insurance approval for surgery. What advice, if any, do you have for other people in this stage?

Well we had blue cross blue sheild of Minnesota at frist. And when my helper at the clinic called them to see what all I had to do to qualify for the surgery and they told her so I did what they said I had to do and went through all the testing and appointments and that took 6 to 7 months. Well I started getting al these big amound of Dr. bills. Well I call the insurance company and they told me that I had to have 3500.00 deductable first then they would pay 80% and I would pay 20%. Well I did everything they said I had to do the clinic sent in my paper work for approval and about 4 to 5 weeks later I got a letter that I was denied for surgery. So the lady at the clinic called me and said I was denied cause I have to have a 6 month supervised diet. Well I gave up cause why didnt they tell us this in the first place cause I coud of did it the 6 to 7 months I was goin through everything. The DR. bills were about $10,000.00 that I was in debt for. So I gave up and while I was in the program I had lost 34 to 36 lbs. I gained all that back PLUS MORE!!!! Then in 2009 my husbands job changed insurance company's to Health Partners so I called them to see what I needed to do to finish the weight loss program. So they told me I needed to take the 4 hrs test over and do the 5 phone calls and I can finish it and have my surgery. I started in December 2009 and I got to have my surgery July 30th 2010.. So my advice for anyone is to make sure when they or whoever calls the insurance company to get all the facts of what u need to do to have the surgery.

What was your first visit with your surgeon like? How can people get the most out of this meeting?

My first visit with my surgeon was good. He was VERY FRIENDLY AND NICE AND LISTEN TO WHAT U HAD TO SAY OR ANY QUESTIONS YOU HAD. HE ALSO SPENT AWHILE IN THE ROOM WITH ME TELLING ME ABOUT EVERYTHING. JUST A GREAT DR.

What made you finally decide to have the surgery?

When we got the better insurance. They are the best insurance in the world. I love them. VERY SUPPORTIVE

How did you decide which proceedure to have?

I wanted the ryn from the get go. I didnt like the stuff I heard about the lap banding. Plus I didnt want it to take forever to loos the weight.

What fears did you have about having complications or even dying from from the surgery, and what would you tell other people having the same fears now?

My biggest fear was the dumping symtomps. I hate throuwing up. Well that has been my biggest problem up till now and I am 4 months out. I have had a long process. I hvae been in and out of hospital for procudrues 4 times now. They call it a stricture. Where they have to go down with camera and balloon and strech my pouch out cause the scar tissue shrunk it to where no food or water could pass throu. So I had a hard start. Things are starting to straightening out. But I still have a hard time keeping stuff down.

How did your family and friends react to your decision? Would you have communicated anything differently if you could now? How supportive were they after your surgery?

Everyone was really supportive. My husband has been wonderful and been right by my side when I was really sick in the begining. He was soooooooooooooo worried about me he was scared. So was I.

How did your employer/supervisor react to your decision? What did you tell him/her? How long were you out of work?

My boss was real supportive. I only asked off for a week and a half. Witch wasnt long enough. From being sooooo sick in the begining when I went back to work I spent more time in the bathroom throwing up or I would have to find someone to come in to work my shift for me. So it was really hard I missed alot of hrs at work.

What was it like attending your first information seminar on weight loss surgery? Were you glad you attended? if so, why?

It was very interesting. I dint have to think about doin it I was one of the first pepole there to fill out the paper work and get it in to get my 1st appointment. I wanted to do it soooooo bad.

What was your stay in the hospital like? How long where you there? What things are most important to bring?

I had surgery on July 30th 2010 it was on a Friday morning. I was in alot of pain. I am the biggest baby when it comes to pain. But my Dr. came in on Saturday morning and said I could go home that afternoon. So I was really happy. Well around 2 or 3 pm in the afternoon I started getting really sick and had a ton of pain. So they called the Dr. and he said I had to stay. So the nurses have me more iv pain meds. Well late Saturday night I started throwing up really bad. I was up all night throwing up. I was getting meds for it every 15 to 20 mins. Nothing would stop it. So the Dr. ordered a cat scan to see if I had a leak. I didnt thank god. But from all the throwing up I did that night I had something that they wanted to keep me angain. So I got to go home on Monday afternoon. It was a long and unwanted stay.

Did you have any complications from the surgery? If so, how did you deal with them?

I have had complications from day one. Of course everything had to be my luck for anything and everything to go wrong. I am still dealing with some complications. But not as bad now. THANK GOD...

In the weeks after you got your surgery date, how did you feel? How did you cope with any anxiety you might have felt?

Me & the Dr. was shooting for Aug. 20th 2010. But when the insurance oked it they said I had to have my surgery on July 30th 2010 or not at allll. So I got this call on July 27th 2010. So it was a last min choice and I had to do cold trukey with almost everything. THAT WAS THE HARDEST!!!!

Describe your first few weeks home from the hospital. What should people expect from this period?

Well my frist 2 weeks were pure "HELL" I WAS SICKER THEN A DOG. I CRIED ALL THE TIME. I DIDNT FEEL GOOD AT ALL. MY FIRST 2 WEEKS HOME I HAD TO GO TO THE ER 3 TIMES CAUSE I WAS SOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO SICK. I HATED IT.....

How far did you travel to have your surgery? (If far, how did this affect your aftercare?)

I only had 20 miles to go. Not that for

Please describe in detail what things you could and couldn't eat in the weeks and months following surgery. What foods have been off limits? Please explain how your dietary tolerance changed week-by-week, and then month-by-month since surgery.

Well I couldnt have starchy foods or reall fatty foods. No pop or milk So this process for me was really hard. I lost 7 lbs in like 2 weeks before surgery. Now after surgery it has been hard.

What was your actvity level in the days and weeks after surgery?

Well with being really sick my actvity level was none. ALl I did was lay around cause when I would get up and move I would get really sick.

What vitamins and/or dietary supplements have you taken since your surgery?

Citracal calcium citrate plus D3.

What side effects (nausea, vomiting, sleep disturbace, dumping, hair loss etc.) were worse for you? For how long after surgery did they persist? How did you cope with them?

The vomiting is still goin on but not as bad as it did my first 3 1/2 months. I just had to cope with it there was nothing I could do about it. Just hope and wish it would stop someday soon...

What was the worst part about the entire bariatric surgery process?

ALLLLLLLLLLLLL THE THROWING UP I HAVE DONE. EVERYONE I KNOW AND HAD TALKED TO DID VERY WELL. SOMETIMES I TELL MY HUSBAND IF I WOULD OF KNOWN I WAS GONNA BE THIS SICK I WOULDNT HAVE DONE IT.

What aftercare support group/program do you have? How helpful/important is this?

WELL I HAVENT BEEN TO ANY YET BUT I PLAN ON GOIN SOON.

What is your scar like? Is this what you expected?

THEY ARE UGLY AND DARK. ?

Please describe any plateau experiences you have had since surgery.

NON I DONT THINK I DONT KNOW WHAT THIS IS.

Do you notice people treating you any differently now?

NO NOT YET.